How to Have Living Hope When Grieved by Various Trials
Notes
Transcript
How is it possible for someone to have hope, and not just hope- living hope, as they are struggling through various trials?
Maybe you as you were watching the video this morning, you were thinking- how is it possible for these people to have hope? Look at what is happening to the world around us- if you watch the news for any length of time there is seemingly nothing hopeful whatsoever in this world.
15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
That is the goal this morning- to give a reason for the hope that is in us- because this hope does not come from us- our hope has another source outside of ourselves- and that is what I want to share with you this morning.
Picture a building- in fact let me show a picture of our new church building.
Image Slide show of the foundation-
So it is with our hope- there is a foundation to our hope and without that foundation we would be of all people most miserable.
So what is the foundation of the believer’s hope?
Peter gives us 5 different foundational pillars (stem walls) that make it possible to have a living hope.
The first foundation of living hope:
I. Living Hope is possible because of the Great Mercy of God (v. 3a)
I. Living Hope is possible because of the Great Mercy of God (v. 3a)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Our hope is dependent upon the abundant mercy of God!
The word mercy means kindness or concern expressed for someone in need. It is compassion or pity. God is abundantly kind, abundantly compassionate, full of pity for us.
God’s mercy is hopeful because it is not something that I have to earn- it is not dependent upon my own ability- it is something that God’s gives freely.
3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.
4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,
5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—
3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—
Illustration: Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners
9 As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.
10 And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples.
11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
12 But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
13 Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Refutation: I don’t think God’s mercy is enough for me.
22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
When I am going through trials I can still have living hope because my hope is built on the foundation of God’s Great Mercy! How about you?
Have you taken advantage of God’s mercy? How do I do that?
That leads us to the second foundation of living hope:
II. Living Hope is possible because of the New Birth (v. 3b)
II. Living Hope is possible because of the New Birth (v. 3b)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
If you are to have living hope you must be born again. What does it mean to be born again?
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”
3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Personal Testimony:
The Third Foundation of a living hope
III. Living Hope is possible because of the Resurrection (v. 3c)
III. Living Hope is possible because of the Resurrection (v. 3c)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.
4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
You heard this over and over again in the video
This give hope in the midst of trials!
13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good?
14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled,
15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
There is no hope apart from God’s mercy, or the new birth, or the resurrection of Jesus our Savior.
The fourth foundation of living hope:
IV. Living Hope is possible because of our Inheritance (v. 4)
IV. Living Hope is possible because of our Inheritance (v. 4)
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
Inheritance- what we are looking forward to, our reward
Incorruptible- imperishable- lasting forever
Undefiled- untainted, pure, free from any stain or blemish
Will not fade away- never loses quality or beauty
Reserved in heaven for you.
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
Vindication- one of the pillars of our hope!
16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
Vindicated- to render a favorable verdict, to be found in the right.
18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;
19 in which also He went and made proclamation to the spirits now in prison,
20 who once were disobedient, when the patience of God kept waiting in the days of Noah, during the construction of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water.
21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.
Illustration: Riding my bike in Zwift- simulated a race- at the end of the race it brought up these words on the screen that said- “You did it, all you hard work and pain was worth it, imagine being soaked with champagne and hoisted up on people shoulders.” And I thought to myself- if all I get after an hour of pain is to be soaked with champagne then this wasn’t worth it at all.
If all we get at the end of this life is nothing, if we just cease to exist- what’s the point. But if we have the hope of an inheritance that is imperishable, and undefiled and unfading- kept in heave for you- doesn’t that give you hope?
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
The fifth foundation of living hope:
V. Living Hope is Possible because of the Power of God (v. 5)
V. Living Hope is Possible because of the Power of God (v. 5)
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.
39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.
40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.
24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,
This is why we can have a living hope- this is the reason for the hope that lies in us! We are hopeful because of our God. There truths are the foundation of our hope- we can have a living hope because of the mercy of God, and being born again, and because of the resurrection of Jesus our Savior, and because of our inheritance, and because God is personally guarding me through His might power. Knowing those and holding these truths close allows us to go through even fiery trials with hope!
6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,
7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,
9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Maybe you are sitting in you living room this morning and you are thinking, “Pastor, I don’t have this living hope that you are talking about.” Why?
Which foundation is missing?
God’s great mercy, Born Again, Resurrection of Jesus, Inheritance, Guarded by the Power of God.
You can have hope- God offers it to you today! Will you trust Him?